Ex-AAHK General Manager among 10 charged with HK$4.3m bribery over Three-Runway System Project’s sub-contracts and orders worth HK$200m
2023-2-15
Following the enforcement actions taken by the ICAC in mid-August last year in operation “Blizzard” against suspected corruption in relation to the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport, eight people were charged today (February 15) for their alleged roles in accepting, offering and handling bribes totalling HK$4.3 million over works sub-contracts and materials purchase orders worth over HK$200 million in total. So far 10 defendants, including a former General Manager and a former Principal Manager of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), were charged in relation to the scam.
The 10 defendants, aged between 27 and 65, face a total of 15 charges – three of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, two of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, one of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, eight of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, and one of conspiracy to steal.
Three of the defendants are Yin Kek-kiong, former General Manager of the AAHK; Ricky Lee Wing-fai, former Principal Manager of the AAHK; and Lee’s wife Diana Chan Kok-tan.
Other four defendants are related to two sub-contractors of the 3RS Project. They are Alan Li Kam-on, director of Goldwave Steel Structure Engineering Limited (GSEL) and Li’s associate Joseph Wat Ki-cheung; and Ng Kai-on and Rob Liu Wai-lun, respectively proprietor and former project manager of Carol Engineering Limited (CEL).
The remaining trio are two operators of Joint Field Engineering Limited (JFEL), a supplier of the 3RS Project, namely Wong Ching-ng and Wong Bun-hon; and its sole director-cum-shareholder Wong Yu-hang.
The defendants charged today were released on bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this Friday (February 17) for mention. Their cases will be transferred to the District Court for plea.
The alleged offences took place between January 2017 and August 2022. Previously, Yin and Lee were engineers employed by the AAHK on short-term contracts to assist in managing and supervising works, including those for the main reclamation and the new runway, under a number of contracts of the 3RS Project. Yin was promoted to General Manager in October 2018, while Lee was promoted to Principal Manager in May 2022.
Steel platform sub-contract
GSEL was a steelworks sub-contractor of the 3RS Project. It is alleged that AAHK’s then General Manager Yin, GSEL’s director Li and his associate Wat had conspired together for Yin to accept bribes of HK$1 million for assisting GSEL to secure a sub-contract for the supply and installation of temporary steel platform of the main reclamation works of the 3RS Project. The contract sum of the sub-contract amounted to over HK$37 million.
Filling materials supply and transportation sub-contract
CEL was a filling materials supply and transportation sub-contractor of the 3RS Project. AAHK’s then Principal Manager Lee and CEL’s proprietor Ng had allegedly conspired together for Lee to accept bribes of HK$2.5 million for assisting CEL to be favoured by a contractor of the reclamation works of the 3RS Project, and for assisting CEL to secure other works under the 3RS Project. The relevant filling materials supply and transport sub-contract concerned worth HK$28 million.
CEL’s then project manager Liu had also allegedly conspired with Ng to offer over HK$100,000 to Lee, and HK$100,000 to an employee of the above contractor of the reclamation works of the 3RS Project for their assisting CEL to carry out the relevant works.
Reclamation sand purchase orders
JFEL was a supplier of sand for reclamation works of the 3RS Project. AAHK’s then Principal Manager Lee and JFEL’s operators Wong Ching-ng and Wong Bun-hon had allegedly conspired together for Lee to accept bribes of HK$800,000 for assisting JFEL to secure purchase orders of sand of the main reclamation works of the 3RS Project, and to demand payments from the relevant contractor. During the abovementioned period, purchase orders worth over HK$140 million were placed with JFEL.
Lee and his wife Chan were also alleged to have laundered crime proceeds totalling about HK$6 million, including the abovementioned bribes.
In a separate case for plea in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this Friday, JFEL operator Wong Bun-hon and its sole director-cum-shareholder Wong Yu-hang were charged for allegedly conspiring together to steal HK$350,000 from JFEL.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint filed with the ICAC. Lee and Ng were charged with bribery following the enforcement actions taken by the ICAC in mid-August last year. Upon further legal advice from the Department of Justice, eight other defendants were charged today, whereas Lee faces additional charges. While corruption enquiries are continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions and further prosecutions.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the corruption investigation concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The ICAC learned that the AAHK had conducted a comprehensive review on all relevant documents and records, with no abnormalities and deficiencies identified.
The ICAC will continue to maintain close liaison with the AAHK, which has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.
The 10 defendants, aged between 27 and 65, face a total of 15 charges – three of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, two of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, one of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, eight of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, and one of conspiracy to steal.
Three of the defendants are Yin Kek-kiong, former General Manager of the AAHK; Ricky Lee Wing-fai, former Principal Manager of the AAHK; and Lee’s wife Diana Chan Kok-tan.
Other four defendants are related to two sub-contractors of the 3RS Project. They are Alan Li Kam-on, director of Goldwave Steel Structure Engineering Limited (GSEL) and Li’s associate Joseph Wat Ki-cheung; and Ng Kai-on and Rob Liu Wai-lun, respectively proprietor and former project manager of Carol Engineering Limited (CEL).
The remaining trio are two operators of Joint Field Engineering Limited (JFEL), a supplier of the 3RS Project, namely Wong Ching-ng and Wong Bun-hon; and its sole director-cum-shareholder Wong Yu-hang.
The defendants charged today were released on bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this Friday (February 17) for mention. Their cases will be transferred to the District Court for plea.
The alleged offences took place between January 2017 and August 2022. Previously, Yin and Lee were engineers employed by the AAHK on short-term contracts to assist in managing and supervising works, including those for the main reclamation and the new runway, under a number of contracts of the 3RS Project. Yin was promoted to General Manager in October 2018, while Lee was promoted to Principal Manager in May 2022.
Steel platform sub-contract
GSEL was a steelworks sub-contractor of the 3RS Project. It is alleged that AAHK’s then General Manager Yin, GSEL’s director Li and his associate Wat had conspired together for Yin to accept bribes of HK$1 million for assisting GSEL to secure a sub-contract for the supply and installation of temporary steel platform of the main reclamation works of the 3RS Project. The contract sum of the sub-contract amounted to over HK$37 million.
Filling materials supply and transportation sub-contract
CEL was a filling materials supply and transportation sub-contractor of the 3RS Project. AAHK’s then Principal Manager Lee and CEL’s proprietor Ng had allegedly conspired together for Lee to accept bribes of HK$2.5 million for assisting CEL to be favoured by a contractor of the reclamation works of the 3RS Project, and for assisting CEL to secure other works under the 3RS Project. The relevant filling materials supply and transport sub-contract concerned worth HK$28 million.
CEL’s then project manager Liu had also allegedly conspired with Ng to offer over HK$100,000 to Lee, and HK$100,000 to an employee of the above contractor of the reclamation works of the 3RS Project for their assisting CEL to carry out the relevant works.
Reclamation sand purchase orders
JFEL was a supplier of sand for reclamation works of the 3RS Project. AAHK’s then Principal Manager Lee and JFEL’s operators Wong Ching-ng and Wong Bun-hon had allegedly conspired together for Lee to accept bribes of HK$800,000 for assisting JFEL to secure purchase orders of sand of the main reclamation works of the 3RS Project, and to demand payments from the relevant contractor. During the abovementioned period, purchase orders worth over HK$140 million were placed with JFEL.
Lee and his wife Chan were also alleged to have laundered crime proceeds totalling about HK$6 million, including the abovementioned bribes.
In a separate case for plea in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this Friday, JFEL operator Wong Bun-hon and its sole director-cum-shareholder Wong Yu-hang were charged for allegedly conspiring together to steal HK$350,000 from JFEL.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint filed with the ICAC. Lee and Ng were charged with bribery following the enforcement actions taken by the ICAC in mid-August last year. Upon further legal advice from the Department of Justice, eight other defendants were charged today, whereas Lee faces additional charges. While corruption enquiries are continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions and further prosecutions.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the corruption investigation concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The ICAC learned that the AAHK had conducted a comprehensive review on all relevant documents and records, with no abnormalities and deficiencies identified.
The ICAC will continue to maintain close liaison with the AAHK, which has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.